Hinge for the articulated connection of partitioning panels, furniture and the like for offices

ABSTRACT

A hinge for the articulated connection of first and second releasably held members comprises first and second hinge elements pivotally inter-connected by means of a first block of each element mutually hinged. A second block of each element is connected to the first block by a screw operable to adjust the spacing between opposed pairs of slots and projections to clamp the connecting edge of each member between the first and second blocks. The first and second blocks are resiliently biased away from each other by a spring. The screw extends through a hole in the second block and is engaged in a threaded hole in the first block, whereas the head of the screw provides has a radially projecting lug to prevent the first and second blocks moving further than predetermined distances.

Jan. 1, 1974 United States Patent [1 1 Gianardi HINGE FOR THEARTICULATED Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay CONNECTION OF PARTITIONINGPANELS, Assistant ExaminerDoris L. Troutman FURNITURE AND THE LIKE FOROFFICES Arwmey1 evin McMahon [57] ABSTRACT A hinge for the articulatedconnection of first and sec- [75] Inventor: Agostino Gianardi, Arcola,Italy [73] Assignee: Ing. C. Olivetti & C., S. p.A.,

Torino, Italy ond releasably held members comprises first and secondhinge elements pivotally inter-connected b means of a first block ofeach element mutuall hinged. A second block of each element is connected[22] Filed:' Sept. 12, 1972 to the first block by a screw operable toadjust the spacing between opposed pairs of slots and projections toclamp the connecting edge of each member between the first and secondblocks. The first and second blocks are resiliently biased awa by aspring. The s 2] Appl. No.: 290,920

y from each other crew extends through a hole in the second block and 904 fiZZfiO 2 5 O 9 6594 1 0% i E 4 WM 0 m6 5 M 8 9 U5 4 m 7 mm 8 1 "1] wm, 1 Q7 m mm rl a e n s L m C l s cm h. U .mF 2 N 5 55 [.I.

is engaged in a threaded hole in the first block, whereas the head ofthe screw provides has a radially projecting lug to prevent the firstand second blocks moving further than predetermined distances.

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all" um PATENTEDJAN H914 3,781,944

r SHEET 2 OF 2 86 FIG. 3 v 57 1 HINGE FOR THE ARTICULATED CONNECTION OFPARTITIONING PANELS, FURNITURE AND THE LIKE FOR OFFICES BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION The present invention relates to a hinge for thearticulated connection of partitioning panels, furniture and the like,especially as used in offices. This type of hinge comprises two hingeelements pivoted one with respect to the other, each of which is adaptedto be clamped to a connecting edge of the partition or piece offurniture, and is commonly used for equipping places of work withpartitions or panels which can be connected to one another or to piecesof furniture to be disposed in various configurations. The differentwalls or partitions are connected by means of hinges which heretoforehave required special skill for fixing.

The object of the present invention is to provide a hinge, for equippingopen-space places of work as used in offices, which is adapted to befixed to the partitions by a single person.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a hingecomprising first and second hinge elements pivotally interconnected andincluding means for clamping each hinge element to a connecting edge ofareleasably held member, wherein each hinge element comprises a firstblock hinged to the first block of the other hinge element, and a secondblock connected to the first block by screw means operable to adjust thespacing between opposed pairs of slots and projections provided on thefirst and second blocks to clamp one of said connecting edges betweenthe first and second blocks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREDEMBODIMENT A partitioning system incorporating the hinge of theinvention includes a plurality of partitions and pieces of furniture,one of which is partially shown in FIG. 1 and is indicated by thereference I. On each of the opposite vertical edges of each partition 1or on suitable vertical edges ofa piece of furniture there is fixed aconnecting element 3 having a double T-shaped cross-section. Thissection has a pair of flanges 4 and a web 5 which projects from aconnecting base 6 at one of the lateral edges of the partition orwall 1. The partitions are suitably of sound-absorbing type, while eachconnecting element 3 is of thermoplastic material.

For connecting the partitions l to one another or to pieces of furnitureone or more hinges are used as indicated by the reference 36. Each hinge36 comprises two hinge elements 37 and 38 which are substantially alikeand can pivot one with respect to the other about a pin 41. Each of thehinge elements 37 and 38 includes a block 42 provided with a pair ofbosses 43 having holes into which the pin 41 is introduced. The, bosses43 of one block 42 are disposed between the corresponding bosses of theother block so as to produce a single continuous hinge. Each block 42includes ,a slot 44, a pair of projections 45 and 46 substantiallyparallel to the pin 41, and three holes. A centre hole 47 is threadedand two holes 48 on either side of the centre hole 47 are plain.

With each block 42 there co-operates a movable block 51 having a slot 44and a projection 45 completely similar to those of the block 42, and apair of pins 52 prearranged to be inserted in the holes 48. There is ahole 53 (see also FIG. 2) corresponding to the centre hole 47 for ascrew 54. The head of the screw 54 has a radial lug or tooth 55 and canbe housed, together with the lug, in a corresponding recess 56. Thescrew 54 is screwed into the hole 47 and around it there is arranged aspiral spring 57 the ends of which bear on a resilient ring 58 fixed tothe screw 54 and on a wall of the block 51. The spring 57 normally keepsthe block 51 separated from the block 42.

When the aforesaid blocks are in contact, and therefore the projection46 (FIG. 3) of the block 42 bears on the block 51, the slots 44 and theprojections 45 of the two blocks define a T-Shaped cavity, thecrosssection of which is substantially coincident with that of aconnecting element 3. More particularly, while there is a certainclearance between the flanges 4 of the connecting element 3 and thebases ofthe slots 44, the projections 45 come into contact with theopposing faces of the web 5 of the connecting element 3.

The elements 37 and 38 of the hinge 36 can turn substantially through180 and they may be located substantially in line or, in consequence ofa rotation through 180, they may be located substantially side by side.To produce connections, for example between walls or partitions, withthe hinges 36, the elements 37 and 38 of the various hinges used arefixed to the connecting elements 3 of a partition 1. This fixing iseffected in the following manner.

Assuming that an element 37 (38) is closed, to open it the respectivescrew 54 is turned in such manner as to bring the lug 55 intocorrespondence with the recess 56 of the block 51. In this way, the headof the screw and the lug 55 can enter this recess and the spring 57therefore moves the block 51 in the direction of the arrows (FIGS. 1 and2) away from the block 42, opening the hinge element. In this position,the projections 45 of the block 42 and 51 are at a distance from oneanother greater than the width of the flanges 4 of a connecting element3, so that by moving the hinge element 37 towards the connecting element3 the latter is disposed between the aforesaid t'wo blocks. Now, byexerting a suitable manual pressure on the block 51 it is brought up tothe block 42 (FIG. 3), overcoming the reaction of the spring 57. At thesame time, the head of the screw 54 emerges from the recess 56 and isthen caused to turn through a small angle so that the lug 55 isprevented from returning to the recess 56. After this rotation, thepressure on the block 51 is released, as a result of which the block isurged by the spring 57 until the face is arrested against the lug 55. Inthis position, there has already been obtained a closing of the hingeelement 37 sufficient to prevent the flanges 4 emerging from the slots44 of the blocks 42 and 51.

By means of further rotation of the screw 54, the blocks 42 and 51 aretightened on to the connecting element 3. At the end of the aforesaidrotation, the projections 45 are engaged on the web 5, while theprojection 46 of the block 42 is in contact with a face 86 of the otherblock.

From what has been described, it is obvious that each of the elements 37and 38 of a hinge 36 can be fixed to a connecting element 3 by means oftwo simple successive operations. The first operation brings the blocksalmost into contact with the connecting element and the second operationgenerates sufficient pressures between the blocks and the connectingelement to achieve a firm connection thereof. The fixing of each of thehinge elements 37, 38 can therefore be effected with extreme rapidity bya single person, since it is sufficient to impart two small turns to thescrew 54.

Fig. 4 shows by way of example a star-shaped configuration of fourpartitions 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d. To produce this configuration, each pair ofwalls la-lb, lb-lc, lc-ld has been connected by means ofa pair of hinges(only one of which can be seen in FIG. 4), six hinges being thereforeused in all.

It is therefore clear that modifications and variations can be made inthe embodiment described without departing from the scope of theinvention itself.

I claim:

1. A hinge for the articulated connection of first and second releasablyheld members comprising first and second hinge elements pivotallyinter-connected, including means for clamping each hinge element to theconnecting edge of a releasably held member, a first block (42) in eachhinge element (37, 38) the first blocks (42) of the two hinge elhments(38, 37) being mutually hinged, and a second block (51) in each hingeelement connected to the first block by screw means operable to adjustthe spacing between opposed pairs of slots (44) and projections (45)provided in the first and second blocks to clamp one of said connectingedges between the first and second blocks.

2. A hinge according to claim 1, wherein each connecting edge (3) is ofT-shaped cross-section having a web (5) and two flan ges (4) projectingat right-angles from the web.

3. A hinge according to claim 1 wherein the second block (51) is guidedwith respect to the first block (42) by mmeans of at least one pin (52).

4. A hinge member according to claim 1 wherein the first and secondblocks are resiliently biased away from each other by resilient means(57).

5. A hinge according to claim 1, wherein the screw means comprises ascrew (54) which extends through a hole (53) in the second block (42),the head of the screw providing a first stop against a first stopsurface of the second block and having a radially projecting lug (55)providing a second stop against a second stop surface of the secondblock, the first and second stops being provided to prevent the firstand second blocks moving further than respective first and seconddistances apart.

6. A hinge according to claim 5, wherein the first stop surface isprovided with a recess (56) in the second stop surface for accommodatingthe head and the lug (55), the lug being movable from the second stopsurface to the first stop surface after rotating the screw (54) throughnot more than one revolution.

7. A hinge according to claim 5, wherein each connecting edge (3) is ofT-shaped cross-section having a web (5) and two flanges (4) projectingat right-angles from the web, and wherein the first and second stopsurfaces of the second block (51) are at a distance apart at least equalto the total length by which the two flanges (4) project from the web(5) of the connecting edge (3).

1. A hinge for the articulated connection of first and second releasablyheld members comprising first and second hinge elements pivotallyinter-connected, including means for clamping each hinge element to theconnecting edge of a releasably held member, a first block (42) in eachhinge element (37, 38) the first blocks (42) of the two hinge elements(38, 37) being mutually hinged, and a second block (51) in each hingeelement connected to the first block by screw means operable to adjustthe spacing between opposed pairs of slots (44) and projections (45)provided in the first and second blocks to clamp one of said connectingedges between the first and second blocks.
 2. A hinge according to claim1, wherein each connecting edge (3) is of T-shaped cross-section havinga web (5) and two flanges (4) projecting at right-angles from the web.3. A hinge according to claim 1 wherein the second block (51) is guidedwith respect to the first block (42) by means of at least one pin (52).4. A hinge member according to claim 1 wherein the first and secondblocks are resiliently biased away from each other by resilient means(57).
 5. A hinge according to claim 1, wherein the screw means comprisesa screw (54) which extends through a hole (53) in the second block (42),the head of the screw providing a first stop against a first stopsurface of the second block and having a radially projecting lug (55)providing a second stop against a second stop surface of the secondblock, the first and second stops being provided to prevent the firstand second blocks moving further than respective first and seconddistances apart.
 6. A hinge according to claim 5, wherein the first stopsurface is provided with a recess (56) in the second stop surface foraccommodating the head and the lug (55), the lug being movable from thesecond stop surface to the first stop surface after rotating the screw(54) through not more than one revolution.
 7. A hinge according to claim5, wherein each connecting edge (3) is of T-shaped cross-section havinga web (5) and two flanges (4) projecting at right-angles from the web,and wherein the first and second stop surfaces of the second block (51)are at a distance apart at least equal to the total length by which thetwo flanges (4) project from the web (5) of the connecting edge (3).